The E-FIT-W project aims to: 1) Transfer resources developed by the UNESCO Chair in Inclusive PE, Sport, Fitness and Recreation at the Institute of Technology Tralee to equip fitness professionals with skills to work with people with disabilities. 2) Pilot the training program in Ireland, UK, Spain, France and Czech Republic to ensure it meets the needs of each country. 3) Create an awareness campaign to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in fitness environments across Europe in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

1. Project Information Sheet European Fitness Inclusion Training for Work
E-FIT-W: European Fitness Inclusion Training for Work: LLP/LdV/TOI/2013/IRL – 511 Timescale:
November 2013-October 2015
The UNESCO Chair in Inclusive PE, Sport, Fitness and Recreation in the ITTralee in partnership with the
European Observatory of Sports Employment, Universidad Poltecnica De Madrid, Skillsactive UK,
Palacky University in Olomouc & MomentumBD Ltd/IHRSA will refine and transfer resources for VET
trainers designed to equip fitness professionals with sufficient knowledge, competence and skill to
work with people with disabilities in fitness work environments. In addition the project will exemplify
the 7P framework for Inclusive Fitness and provide direction to centre managers regarding inclusive
practice.
Project Aims:
The World Health Organisation state that 15% of the world’s population have a disability. People with
disabilities are 3 times less likely to be physically active and twice as likely to be obese than the able
bodied population (CDC, 2009). They are underrepresented in the mainstream fitness environments.
Many fitness centre managers & instructors do not feel confident working with people with disabilities
and this is exacerbated by a lack of awareness among employers, those with disabilities and their
families regarding the benefits to be gained from their participation. A number of factors contribute
to this including: the vocational preparation of professionals and operating polices and attitudes of
staff, employers and society as a whole (Mulligan et al, 2012). Few VET training programmes equip
fitness professionals with sufficient knowledge, competence and skills to work with people with
disabilities while, the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) says States Parties
shall: a) encourage their participation in mainstream sporting activities; provide opportunity to
organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities and; ensure
equal access to.. recreation and leisure.. activities.
This project draws together a Sector Skills Alliance and Knowledge Alliance to maximise the impact in
real work contexts and to ensure the quality of the transfer of the training programme and model for
Fitness Inclusion Training for Work, (FIT for Work) developed in the ITTralee to Europe (E-FIT-W). The
training resources and 7P model which underpins it will be piloted in the Ireland, the UK, Spain, France
and the Czech Republic. Resources will be tailored to ensure sectoral needs are met. In addition we
aim to create a Multimedia Awareness and Education Campaign to be used in wide-scale dissemination
activities across the social partner mix of VET Trainers, Employers, Employees, and Representative
Bodies. As a result of this project more fitness instructors will be equipped with competence needed to
work with people with disabilities and more workplaces will cater for their inclusion.

2. AIMS
• To transfer IT Tralee philosophy, model and training, FIT for Work, to a wider European audience, of VET
providers and employers, through a broad social partner mix with view to improving access to fitness sector
activities for people with disabilities.
• To critically examine and transfer, the knowledge competence and skills framework, training programme, and
development model produced in the ITTralee
• To enhance the attractiveness, quality and performance of VET training and specifically Fitness Inclusion
Training by ensuring it’s alignment with real work environments.
• To identify, monitor and anticipate the needs for disability inclusion training in the Fitness Sector, in alignment
with the priorities of the LLP and the EC Agenda for New Skills and Jobs.
• To match skills supply with labour market needs.
• To be instrumental in creating a Europe where people with disabilities can access services in the Fitness Sector
commensurate with those provided to able bodied Citizens, in keeping with the Convention of Rights for People
with Disabilities and with our UNESCO Chair goals.
OBJECTIVES
• To review the ITTralee resources to ensure the training is responsive to labour market needs across Europe.
• To pilot the transfer in the all partner countries.
• To examine and disseminate our 7-P model of Best Practice for Fitness Inclusion Training.
• To package a resource for VET and LLL that explicitly integrates training with the world of work.
• To provide for transparency and recognition of training associated with E-Fit for Work through ECVET tools.
• To develop a multimedia education and awareness campaign for the Sector in Europe.
• To advocate and educate social partners and stakeholders in the sector regarding the need for an
improvement in service provision, profession preparation and lifelong learning opportunities to enable people
with disabilities to participate in the Fitness Sector.
• To disseminate the outcomes of the project broadly.
Key contact for the project:
catherine.carty@ittralee.ie +353 667144194
Contact Information for the Partnership:
European Observatory of Sport Employment
Universidad Poltecnica De Madrid
Skillsactive UK
Palacky University in Olomouc
MomentumBD Ltd pp. IHRSA
Aurelien Favre
Javier Perez
Tejero
Robert Wilkie
Martin Kudlacek
Kilian Fisher
Aurelien.favre@eose.org
j.perez@upm.es
Robert.Wilkie@skillsactiveregisters.org
Martin.kudlacek@upol.cz
kilianfefisher@gmail.com